PATRON REQUEST PROCEDURES

March 26, 1999, Revised February 2, 2000
Author: Shirley Higgins
Approved by: Catalog Dept. Section Heads
Minor revisions, February 11, 2008



 

HOW PATRON REQUESTS ARE RECEIVED

Patron requests are received from Access Services, BML, CMRR, IR/PS, MCL, S&E, SIO, and occasionally from class reserves and staff requests.  The request may be received on a paper "in-process request" form with the following specified information: patron's name, address, author/title, date, branch and how soon the book is needed.  Requests may also be emailed to Roz Vigil or Shirley Higgins.
 

PRELIMINARY SEARCHING AND INFORMATION-GATHERING

1. Check InnoPac:
 
a) Look at the "cat date" in the bibliographic record to see if the book has been recently cataloged.  If the book has recently been cataloged, check the item status.  If the status is dash (-), the book has already been EV'd and distributed and may be shelved in the stacks or on a shelving truck in the stacks.  If the book has soft cover, it may have been sent to Bindery, and the status will be "a."  If the status is "i," the book is still being processed in the Catalog Dept.

 b) If the book is not cataloged, check the received dates in the order record to give you an idea of where the book might be in the department.  If the received date is very recent (1-14 days), the book is probably in the Receiving Unit of the Acquisitions Dept. on a book truck or on a shelf in the review room.  Books are arranged in the review room according to the selector's initials.  They are held there for approximately 1 week and then placed on the tattle tape and property stamp truck where they may stay for up to a week.   If the received date is within 1-2 months, books should be in the Catalog Department. Determine the appropriate section by the type of copy. Books are generally shelved chronologically (arranged by received date).  Streamers usually have the received dates marked on them.

c) Use the InnoPac (and OCLC record, if needed) to determine the type of copy available, which should tell you which section may have the book.

d) Also use the InnoPac or OCLC record to note the size of the book, the branch,  and the received date--all of which are helpful when searching.


2. Gifts, standing orders, and older records do not have order records attached to them.  They usually have only an item record and a brief bib record, and sometimes only a brief bib record.  Check the dates they were last updated or created for a clue as to approximately when the book was received and where the book might be located.  Also search these titles on OCLC to see what copy is available and use this infomation to determine where to search in the Catalog Dept. (see "Where to search for books by section" below).

3. Check for notes in the order record or the item record that may give additional information needed in locating a serial analytic, working paper, replacement, added copy, etc.
 

WHERE TO SEARCH BOOKS BY SECTION

1. MC2

Monographs and videos with exact copy with LC or NLM call numbers and subjects are processed by MC2.  In the MC2 section, check the incoming book trucks and the Copy Searchers' trucks by the received dates on streamers.  Check books thoroughly on the MARC, CIP, Member, and Rush shelves and check the catalogers' book trucks and working areas.  Check with Essie for S&E and SIO books with copy.  For mono analytics and videos, check with Roz.  For serial analytics and books with disks, check with Bettie K.  For BML or MCL books, check with George Brundrett. Check inside Shirley's cubicle or on the trucks outside her cubicle for the problem books.  Books with no copy are on a shelf in the OSM section to be reviewed by Marilu for recycling or cataloging.
 

2. OSM

Monographs with less than full copy, variant copy, or no copy and other non-serial formats are processed by OSM.  In OSM language, library, and format determine who catalogs what.  If  a book is relatively newly received, check the OSM shelves: New inputs, Enhance, Working papers, K level, Rush, S&E with contributed copy, LC precedent and LC variant copy.  If a book was received a while ago, it is likely being worked on by individual OSM catalogers.  Use the OSM Section list of responsibilities (which is posted on the OSM cubicle panels), to determine who may have a particular book.  Check shelves, book trucks and work areas of the original catalogers.   For Cal and EC documents with copy, check with Betty Flores.  Check Peggy's truck if the series is not established.  Check Becky's area for corporate bodies which are not established.  Problem books are on Marilu's book truck.  Books with no copy  may be found on the recycle review shelf in OSM.
 

3. CJK

Chinese, Japanese, and Korean language materials are processed by CJK.  All CJK patron requests are given to Jean Tzung.  Jean will locate the book and return it back to the original patron request searcher.
 

4. DISC

Serials and electronic resources are processed by DISC.  Recently received serials would be on the incoming truck or the outside shelf of the DISC Section.  Check with the serial catalogers, preferably Margaret.  If a serial is not for circulation, the patron is notified by DISC or Access Services that the item is available for 1 week for review in the current periodicals area (contact Paul Harris).  Microforms and Maps are handled somewhat the same way.

NOTE: Serial analytics that are found in the OSM section without a call number label must be checked in by Virginia Pulido in the Acquisitions dept.
 

5. DBM

Recently cataloged books which still have item status "i" are likely to be found on EV shelves or book trucks.  If the OCLC record for a requested book has "CUS" in the holdings or if the InnoPac record has a "cat date," it may be an added copy, replacement, or added volume. Check the Database Management added copies truck for added copies and replacements. Check with Caroline Kidman for added volumes.

NOTE: Because of special binding practices, patron requests for Music materials are handled by Music Section staff using separate procedures.
 
 

PROBLEM SOLVING

1. If the received date is quite old, the book could be in the OSM Section or on a "problem" shelf.  Check these with Marilu, Becky, or Shirley.

2. Sometimes we receive a different edition than was ordered.  If this is not caught and resolved by Receiving staff, catalogers, or EV, we end up with two records in InnoPac for the same book (one has the wrong edition or publication date).  If you suspect this has occurred, compare the received date in the order record of the requested item to the cat date of the other item.  If they are close, make printouts of both records and bounce them to Shirley or Jessica for resolution.  If the cataloged copy is available, either retrieve it and send it along to fill the patron request, or indicate the call number on the "in-process request" form and let the patron retrieve the book.

3. Sometimes books can slip through and end up in the stacks labeled, but uncataloged.  This is more likely to have happened with older books.  It's a good idea to do a stack check for an older item that is not found in the Catalog or Acquisitions Depts.

4. If a book has an IP number, it may be shelved in the IP stacks.
 
 

COMPLETING THE PATRON REQUEST

1. If the book is found:
a) Generally, if copy is available, the requested book is cataloged and labeled before being sent to the patron.  BML, MCL, and SIO books must be cataloged prior to charge-out, and may therefore require rush original cataloging.  IR/PS, S&E, SSH, and UGL patron requests that cannot be cataloged immediately may be charged-out using "IP" (in-process) number labels (which are basically accession numbers).  IP numbers have been pre-printed on self-stick labels located at the Copy Searchers' desk.  Apply IP labels to the book spine or front cover, just as call number labels are applied, and pencil the IP number on the fly leaf.  Also record the IP numbers used on the IP number roster which is kept with the IP stickers.  For California documents use the "Cal IP" numbers.  Enter the IP number in the 099 call number field of the item record (sometimes we need to create an item record).  Also verify or add the barcode to the item record, and add a message: "Upon return from patron please send book to [cataloger's name], 0175-K, [initial and date]" Upon return from patron the book is cataloged.
b) Fill out the bottom portion of the In-Process request form.  Indicate the action taken (cataloged, or IP number assigned, etc.), initial and date.  Insert the original pink slip in the book.  File a photocopy of the slip in the patron request box on Roz's shelf.
c) All cataloged books for all branches are labeled and reviewed in the EV section.  SSH, S&E, IR/PS, and UGL books are put on the Patron Notify shelf or Library Express shelf in the Access services area.  IR/PS reserves are mailed.  Books requested by ILL are placed on the appropriate shelf in DBM.
d) Books that are unbound (loose-leaf,  stapled, or spiral-bound) for SSH, UGL, and IR/PS are taken to the Preservation Dept. to have a temporary binding applied.  The book can then be labeled and processed by the students in the EV unit.  EV will insert a message in the item record instructing circ staff to send the book to Bindery when returned by the patron.


2. If the book is not found:

a) Indicate "not found" on the In-Process request form and return it to the appropriate person and branch.  File a photocopy of the slip in the patron request box.
b) Change the item status to "s" (missing) and insert a message with date in the item record: Book is missing.  If found send to [name] for cataloging. 021099

c) If Access Services has not already done so, inform Acquisitions Dept. Ordering staff that the piece is missing so that they can initiate steps to re-order the item.

CONTACT PERSONS WITH MAIL CODES AND BRANCH

Geisel Library Catalog Dept.:
Rosalinda Vigil, x42969, 0175K
Shirley Higgins, x20091, 0175K

Geisel Library Acquisitions Dept.:
Jessica Miramontes, x41250, 0175A
Dave Fisher, x41221, 0175A

SSHL Access Services:  Jason Chodur, x20338, 0175L

BML:  Patty Carranza, x43253, 0699

CMRR:  Jan Neumann, x46199, 0401

FVL:  Stephen O'Riordan, x45784, 0175L

ILL: Bob Brault, x41212, 0175L

IR/PS: Helen Chtourou, x47785, 0514

MCL:  Jaime Quebada, x37701, 8828

S&E:
Jack Neves, x49732, 0175E
Wayne Kitchen, x49732, 0175E

SIO:
Shelly Shaffer, x41223, 0219
Gina McCollough, 43275, 0219